Worcester and state police make $120K heroin bust

WORCESTER — A yearlong joint investigation pulled $120,000 worth of heroin off the streets over the weekend and resulted in eight arrests, police said.

The investigation came to a head Saturday when vice squad officers headed to a 17 Shale St. apartment with a search warrant. Police were looking for 28-year-old Gabriel Texidor-Ramos of 100 Chester St., Fitchburg.

About 2 p.m., vice squad officers forced their way into a second-floor apartment. As the door swung open, a glass table was struck.

“There was a large amount of cash on the table, which scattered in the air as officers rushed the apartment,” police said. “Police immediately identified the target present in the apartment.”

Mr. Texidor-Ramos and a second man, identified as Ramon Martinez-Perez, 20, of the Bronx, N.Y., began to run, police said. Mr. Texidor-Ramos allegedly tried to hand Mr. Perez a large plastic bag, but it fell to the floor. Police said Mr. Texidor-Ramos tried to punch one of the officers and after a struggle was arrested. Mr. Martinez-Perez was arrested as well. He had $860 tucked in his sneaker, police said.

Officers collected the plastic bag and found 309 grams of heroin inside. The scattered money was collected and totaled almost $7,600.

Mr. Texidor-Ramos was charged with resisting arrest, providing a false name to a police officer, trafficking greater than 200 grams of heroin, conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws and also on a warrant for being a fugitive from justice. The warrant was issued from the New York City Police Department.

Mr. Martinez-Perez was charged with trafficking greater than 200 grams of heroin and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

Police located two other men in a nearby room during the raid. The two were identified as Elby Jose Sanchez, 19, and Joel Ventura-Paulino, 28, both of Manhattan, N.Y. Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Paulino were placed under arrest without incident.

Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Ventura-Paulino were charged with trafficking greater than 200 grams of heroin and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

An additional $7,000 was discovered in Mr. Texidor-Ramos' car, police said. All of the men arrested were charged with heroin trafficking and other drug charges. Mr. Texidor-Ramos was also wanted in New York.

As officers were inside the Shale Street apartment, other vice squad, gang unit and street violence prevention unit officers, with a warrant, searched 1069 West Boylston St. Two men were found inside the home. They were identified as 39-year-old Jeremiah Coffey of 8 Lynnwood Ave., Oxford, and 32-year-old Luis Garcia-Tobar of 33 May St., Worcester.

Police said more than 100 grams of heroin was found in house, along with $4,600 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

Mr. Coffey was charged with 16 counts of heroin distribution and several other drug charges. Mr. Luis Garcia-Tobar was charged with heroin trafficking and other drug charges.

A third suspect was located on Gold Star Boulevard. The man, identified as 35-year-old Jonathan Kiesiner of 13 Oak Circle, Millbury, allegedly had 47 knotted bags of heroin, $73 and cellphones. Mr. Kiesner was charged with heroin possession with intent to distribute and other drug charges.

As the arrests unfolded in Worcester, state police executed a search warrant at 100 Chester St., Fitchburg.

A woman, identified as 27-year-old Clariery Taveras, was found inside the home. Police said $2,000 and a stolen handgun were recovered. Ms. Taveras was arrested and charged with firearm possession and receiving stolen property.

A safe deposit box in a Fitchburg bank was searched on Monday. Authorities said it contained $53,585.

The joint investigation involved Worcester police, state police and the Worcester district attorney's office. It netted a total of $75,717 and roughly 644 grams of heroin, which has a street value of approximately $120,000, police said. Also seized were a stolen handgun and two vehicles.

All of the suspects face charges in Central District Court or Fitchburg District Court.

“We'd like to think we're going to make an impact on the street-level dealers,” Police Capt. Paul B. Saucier said. “This stuff gets sent around and sold by other dealers.”